A nurse working in the emergency department is seeing an older patient who does not speak English well

Question

The nurse calls for an interpreter. The student wants to know why the patient's minor child, who speaks English, cannot interpret. What response by the nurse is best? (Select all that apply.)
a. The child may not accurately translate.
b. The child and older adult may be embar-rassed.
c. The patient has the right to interpretation.
d. Having a child interpret takes too much time.
e. Privacy laws prohibit this practice.

Answer 1

A, B, C
Although in a true emergency the nurse may have to use a child interpreter, this practice is not recommended. The child may not have the vocabulary to translate, the child may "edit" the comments, the child or older adult may be embarrassed by the medical condition, and patients have a legal right to professional interpretation. Using an interpreter always takes more time and privacy laws do not prohibit this practice.